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A member of the Soul Children of Chicago Choir remembers singing backup for Whitney Houston on "The Oprah Show." (Published Monday, Feb 13, 2012)

Updated at 1:39 PM CDT on Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Oprah Winfrey's got a lot more free time on her hands these days, time that might be spent on a return to acting.

Oprah is being courted by director Lee Daniels ("Precious") for his upcoming film, "The Butler," according to http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oprah-winfrey-lee-daniels-the-butler-291534www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oprah-winfrey-lee-daniels-the-butler-291534. The film centers on the story of a black man who worked as a White House butler from 1952 to 1986, serving eight presidents. It would be her first film since 1998's "Beloved."

David Oyelowo ("Red Tails") is Daniels' first choie to take the title role of Eugene Allen, whose story was made widely known by a piece in the Washington Post, "A Butler Well Served by This Election," which ran in 2008. Hugh Jackman, Mila Kunis and John Cusack are said to be others sought for the film.

Allen's wife Helene passed away on the eve of President Obama's election, leaving her husband to vote alone. Allen died March 31, 2010, having lived logn enough to be a special guest at Obama's swearing-in ceremony.

Chicago Remembers Whitney Houston

A member of the Soul Children of Chicago Choir remembers singing backup for Whitney Houston on "The Oprah Show." (Published Monday, Feb 13, 2012)

Daniels next film, "The Paperboy," is a crime thriller starring Nicole Kidman, John Cusack, Matthew McConaguhey and Nicole Kidman, that recently dropped one of the better posters we've seen in a while.